Submergible vessel



L. FORT.

SUBMERGIBLE VESSEL. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1917.

1,382,073. PatentedJune 21, 1921.

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L. FORT. V

I SUBMERGIBLE VESSEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1917. 1,382,073, Patented June 2 1921 3SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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L. FORT.

SUBMERGIBLE VESSEL.

APPLICATlON men JUNE 28., 1917 1,382,073. Patented June 21, 1921."

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LOUIS roar, or JERSEY crrY, NEW JERSEY."

' SUBIVIERGIIBLE VESSEL.

To all whom itmag concern:

Be it known that I, Lou s FoR'r, a c1t1zen' of the United States, and aresident of J ersey City, in the county of Hudson and State ofNew,Jersey,-haveinvented certain new one skilled inthe art may make anduse the same. i I

The invention relates to submergible vessels generally, and isparticularly directed to submarines andwhat might be termed dirigibletorpedoes. Itpertains to a method I andmechanism for varying andcontrolling the displacement of the vessel in; contrad si tinction tomaintaining a constant displacement thereof, and controlling thesubmersion by varyingthe condition .ofweight or ballas In presentpractice, water pumped into and out of the tanks of the hull serves to finstance, fuel, armament, etc are varied;

with referenceto vits buoyancy so that its in a very short period oftime;

In so faras known, ithas been a common practice with a vessel or" anygiven displacement andbuoyancy toovercom e the buoyancy by the additionof weight in the form of water ballast. This has ,beenpumped into andout of, suitable. ballast tanks-and In vessels of this character; thistaking on of ballast or expellingv it has required un- I usuallyefficient and cumbersome apparatus and considerable power and; thenecessary conditions in the variousballast tanks. 7 V 7 Furthermore, insuch vessels, t has been necessary. to keep the :submarine 'under way?1n order to malnta n the tion of ballast and submersion.

It is the principal-object of thepresent inf vention to provide forvariation 'in displacement of the vessel so that its'natural buoyancyand differing conditions of displacementwill aidin making it morestable,

giving a better control and providing a means-'whereby hovering maybeeffected.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June Application filed. June28,1917. Serial in. 177,512.

f large measurediagr mmatic;

Figure 1 illustrates across-sectional view -vary the conditionsof weightor ballast'and j a ls ps 7 these must be regulated other weights, for

, ancmg pistons.

any well kno' lindrical openings,

proper condii V g two arrangedaft,there'being In the device hereinafterdescribed," is

possible to arrange to maintain the vess l" any desired degree of depthoffsubmerslon by agslmple and efiicient means and the'sameform as inthepresent types of submarines. V I slred, ballast tanks withpumpingdevices,

I Itis also intended that, fwhenrdesuch as are at present employed, maybe used. These are primarily effective in bringing the vessel' down "tozthe 'critical point of its loss of buoyancy duringsubv mersion. Thefull loweringorrising ofthe vessel may'then be taken} care of by theapparatus'describede i Refe'rringto the drawings, whichare inj'a Fig. 2is a "diagrammatic plan of t eta- Fig. 3 is a side-elevation-jwith awayabout one of the balancingpistons.

7 g Fig. 4 illustrates 'in'four diagrams a form submergence may becontrolled andsecured ,pf 6 1f1 11C 1 r 1 'fOIi'eaGh 0f, the'balanc mgmotors.

-without requiring the vessel to be under and useful Improvements inSubmergible f- .Vessels, of which the followingis a full,

clear, and exact description, whereby any all of the ordinary fins,plane's, 5

parts broken 7 Fig. 5o is a detail View illustrating 51min 1 of drivingthe balancing pistons-f Fig. l 7 is 'a' sectional view of V torpedoillustrating a use ofthefinvention."

illustrating the control. 7

Fig. 9 is a wiringdiagram of the control ling device. 1

i The shell or hull of the vesselmay, be of V 11 type and is indicatedasat :i

1,1as being ofthedouble skin formation;

sultably arranged and opening out et the as many jgoomts as may bec'les'ired ar'e has controlled thelbuoyancy or rather has I g-' i a'cr se na w F g 7, been used t o-overcome the buoyancy of the W vessel.

cylindrical ope'ningS 2, :3, 5." As illiis- ,t a ed in F g.2, there. arefour of these cytwo v arranged "fore and two ontheport and. two on thestarboard side. These, of

'course,'areto :be arranged below the normal,

water line and may be provided with siiitable screen's orotherprotective devices to'prevent the ingress of mud and prevent fouling.

Each cylindrical tube which, of course, will be of suitable dimensions,i's provided c amidships or forward or with a piston 6, having anysuitable means for moving it rapidly backward and forward in itscylinder. As illustrated, the piston 6, is connected through a quickpitch screw 7, with an actuating worm gear 8, which -in turn is drivenby a worm 9, connected with a suitable motor 10. I 1

For the purpose of convenience, each of the pistons has an individualseparate drive and is independently controlled through manual means,though preferably through automatically actuated means. These cylindersand pistons form a means for varying the displacement ofthe vessel andas the pistons are moved forward and back, the vessel will haveincreased creased buoyancy depending upon the difference in the degreeof its displacement.

The motors for each of the'pistonsbeing independently controllable,makes it quite possible to provide great stability and give unusuallatitude of action of the crew. Obviously, the independent operation ofthe pistons will permit automatic ballasting and balancing.- 1

To provide for maintaining definite depth of submersion and toquicklymodify the critical condition of buoyancy, there is arranged inany suitable position, a pair of inter-connected'pistons 11, 12. Theseare inter-connected through driver 13, which may be driven by awormwheel 14, and worm 15, connected with a suitable motor 16. I

As illustrated, the pistons 11, 12, have con necting rods 11, 12 and asthe driving member 13, is rotated, these pistons are driven backward intheir respective cylinders 17, 18. r 1

. The movement of these pistons may be made very rapid and provides avery' sensitive means of adjusting thedisplacement of the vessel forhovering. -Even with the-form of driving apparatusillustrated, theirmovement is readily controlled and is sensitive to slight modificationsin pressures under submersion, as more; fully hereinafter described.

It will be apparent that with the vessel at its critical point ofbuoyancy or loss of buoyancy, these pistons may re-act to vary thatcondition so that a hovering effect may be secured and thevessel may beheld at any predetermined and pre-arranged depth of submersion. '7

As a simple means of controlling the operation of the pistons 6, throughtheir respective motors,there is illustrated in Fig. 4:, a series ofelectrical controls for the electric motors.

An efiectlve simple means of controlling the circuits of the motors ofthe hovering pistons, 11, 12, is illustrated in conjunction with thetorpedo of Figs. 7 to 9 inclusive, wherein the external pressures uponthe hull or dey a common actuating 'dicated in conjunction .with

illustrated, consists .of a weighted pendulum 20, having a suitableswitch barnormally in contact with the main circuit through contacts 21,22, which are connected with the main source of {power 23." The armaturecircuits are controlled through contacts 21,

25, and the fields through contacts 26, 27 28,

and 29. A glance at the diagrams will indicate that the swing 'of-thependulum from its normal central position will control the directionalflow of current from'the main source, of power and as it swings from oneside of normal to the, other, the direction of current will be reversedby reversing'the fields.

The obvious result of this is to drive the motor in one direction or theother and thereby move the respective pistons in either 'direction.

Of course, many means might be devised for controlling the motorsautomatically or they may be controlled manually and whether ofthe'electric or other type, they may be individually or collectivelycontrolled by other apparatus so that the pis- ,;tons can be moved toany desired degree.

No attempt has been made herein to elabrate in detail the various partsof the mechanism and structure, and in fact, the drawings are of more orless diagrammatic type.

It is'a matter of indifference just what power or means is employed forpropelling the various pistons, so long as there is anarrangement ofthem which willchange the displacement of the vessel and thereby produceeificient means for submergingfiit to any degree and with features ofbalancing the vessel while submerged. i

' It is also possible to use water ballast entirely in place of the mainbalancing cylinders 2, to 5, inclusive and still maintain the hovering.pistons 11, 12,. which will operate for the critical point ofbuoyancyduring submersion. i

The depthcontrolis'not specifically in- .the hovering pistons of Figs. 1,to' 3', and for ,clearness is illustrated in Figs? 130 9, where the in'vention is shown as applied to a dirigib le :As illustrated in"itheidia gramjthere is a driving motor 53,-which may be ofthe ordinarycompressed air type commonly employedor may *be an electric =motor. In

7 -eithercase, it*drives*-the propellersof'the torpedo.

The source of electrical energy for'ioperat- -ing the torpedo and itsdepth controlling in tubes or gcy'linders 63, '64, which are arapparatusmaybe storage'batteries; although these are not specifically illustratedherein.

WVithin the icompartment :52, there ."lS a motor 54:, suitably geared toacountershaft '55, which ithrougha: pinion 56, and spro'ck ets 5758,:drives the piston rods 59, 60, in such relation thattheinrespiective pistons 61, 62, are movedaway'i'rom or :toward eachother, depending 1 upon the direction of Frotation :of the countershaft,and motor: shaft.

As illustrated in the diagrams, sprockets and chains are indicated:where: any desired form of drive =may be "employed and, as

shown, the sprockets 5 7,"-'58, :are *threaded threads upon the pistonrods to engage 59,60. 1

The pistons 61, 62, a're 7 arranged to 1 move ranged respectively onoppositesides of the center l'ine of the torpedo -to 1 give balance andat opposite ends of its 'fin 'or keelf65.

It is obvious that asthe pistons are moved backward and forward, the'torpedo}: will be submerged to a greater or less :degree and may bemaintained'at a constant depth "of submergence.

'For controlling the degree of submer, gence, a circuit of the motor 54,is controlled through a simple switch mechanism which reverses thedirection of current in the motor. 1

As illustrated in Fig. 8, there is a diaphragm 66, which is sensitive tothe external pressures of the hull of the torpedo. This is backed up byan adjustable spring 67, which, through any desired indicator mechanism,may be set to difl:'erent tensions. As illustrated, an adjusting nut 68,is provided upon a spindle 69, which is connected with the diaphragm 67,and is pivotally connected as at 70, with swinging switch tacts 75, 76,the flow of current will be.

though the field and armature, in the direction of the dotted arrows. V

the switch .;In other words,.theicontrolling devicereversesthermotor-iconnections to give afre- -versed rotationatothe armature.

As the motor receives-a supply ofcurrent, it moves the'pistons inonehdirection ort-he other .to increase or decrease :the displacement?of the -:torpedo. With, this arrangement, '.the torpedo amay zbegheldconstantly at-.a given depth below theysurface. 7

.There .arezpafticultr {advantages in such an arrangement of theinvention asis lap- .=.plied Ito 'ztorpedoes. They 'may be; run at :thedesired speed: from the. islelf-contained power plztnt, giving ;agreatyradius. 10f op- "eration, i-and ineedi :not .;rely. ;uponiagggiven speed and;;given regulated: angles :of controlling sveins and,5 fins csuc h as, are 'commonlyemployed. "'VV'herera-n electrical-plant:is employed for driving such 5 a torpedo, .there .is little showing:of. its wake as znjaturallystherearexno air bubblesy 'device :for i asubmergible Hvessel, such" as n; 15am :be understood that ithehovei'ingillustratediin Fig. .-1, 1may -;be automatically controlled by the csame diaphragm ;mech;a n ism'illustrate'd1in Fig. 8. f: I

It ..-1s obvious thatxnowattempt-haslbeen made :to zgoiintozexact detailof Zthe various mechanlsms for eaisubmergmg vessel or ;;a

:torpedo, buttthe' showing-is more. or less dia- 1 grammaticandiconfined to -illustrating a 'means fo'r trimmingandcbalancingavesseland "maintaininga e'given 'depthqot submergencef- By :adjusting'thepistons rof the bow :or sternythevessehmay: be caused to dive-whenun'der :way', :or: the bowand 1' stern pistons may {-be utili zed forchanging the edisplace= ments of the-=ivesselrsveryfrapidlyaup. to itscritical point of complete loss of buoyancy. Thereupon, the hoveringpistons will operate to maintainproper' equilibrium. A very slightadjustment of the hovering pistons,

which can be made very rapid, will sufiice to give submergence andmaintain the vessel in' hovering position when it is not under way.

' The advantages of this are apparent as from a point of rest the vesselmay be immediately submerged and when it has reached a givenpre-determined depth, it may be put .under way with safety and without 7liability of runningto too great a depth'as is oftenthe case withpresent methods where vanes-and fins are utilized.-

Itis understood that such modifications inv detail and design as arenecessary may be:

employed. The main elements and "means of operation and purpose. thereofare hereinf above set forth. 7

'The hovering tubes 17, 18, and their appurtenances are eifective formaintainmg a definite condition, causing either positive or negativebuoyancy of the vessel, as they may be moved with great rapidity, It-isapparent that the vessel, when submerged, becomes either positlvely or.negatively buoyant, and the hovering tubes will correct these of thetubes 63, 64, which serve toprovide the variation in displacement forthe torpedo or vessel as well as to maintain it at its critical pointofloss of buoyancy after it has been set for adefinite displacement.

The buoyancy of the vessel may' be controlled with such accuracy 'andease that the system is particularly well adapted for what might betermed a one-man submarine, capable of firing torpedoes. As the vesselcan be made automatically adjustable for trim, all the operator would becompelled to do would be to give it proper directional course andrelease his torpedoes. His equilibrium, after the change in displacementdue to discharge of torpedoes, may be compensated for by the movingpistons. V What I claim as my'nvention and desire to secure by Lettersatent is:

1. A submersible vessel having a plurality of trimming tubes opening.outwardly through the hull of said vessel, pistons traversing saidtubes, individual, means for driving each of said pistons in oppositedirection to vary the displacement and trim of the vessel, means forcontrolling the move ment of'said individual means, and means.

for controlling the buoyancy of the vessel at its critical point of lossof buoyancy;

2. A submersible vessel having a plurality .of trimming tubes openingoutward through the hull of said vessel, pistons traversing said tubes,means for moving said pistons in oppositedi'rection to vary thedisplacement of the vessel, automatic means controlling the movementthereof, and automatically controlled means for varying the buoyancy ofsaid vessel at its critical point of entire loss of buoyancy. 3) x1 3. Asubmersible vessel carrying a power plant and means for drivingthevessel and having tubes ,fore and aft opening; through the hullthereof, pistons traversing said tubes, individually actuated means forrap- .idlymoving each of said pistons in the tubes to vary thedisplacement offthe vessel, means for controlling its critical point o'floss of 1 buoyancy, and automatic means operable by the changes inposition of the vessel forcontrolling the driving means of said pistons.

4:. A submersible vessel having tubes fore and aft opening through thehull thereof,

reversible motor; devices for rapidly moving :said pistons forward andbackward in their respective tubes to vary. the displacement of thevessel, means for, controlling its critical point of loss of buoyancy,and, automatic electro-mechanical means dependent upon the changes inposition of the vessel for C011:- trolling the direction of rotation ofthe motor and the consequent movement of the pistons. r y I VLOUISIFORT.

. Witnesses: F L

fT. C. SHUHERN,

W. H. ADAMS.

